Breathing mask



July 3, 1945. s. A. MoREHousE n' 2,379,493

BREATHING MASK Filed Feb. 28, 1942 Patented July 3, 1945 'l 2,379,493v ay n Silas'A` Morehouse, Losfngelcs; Calif.y

' 'appiicaticprfetmary72s, 1942, sc'riatNc. '.sclai'pss. toiles-'141)This invention relates A broadly' i ito*A breathing masks` andassociated gearfor" use particularly in? supplyingl oxygen` tc aviators,'although the 'ap-v paratus involves Y*featuresof construction that'may'be-usefu1lmre1ate'd quipnientlsuch as gas `.nl`objec`t of theinvention 'is toprovidebreath-Lv in'g'imask equipment thati'scomtortable;compact, andi relatively tree 'from' ioc'se,y danglingparts;l whilat the 'same-time satisfying the ser'vicefre'-v quirementsof a breathing mask. y' l' Another object' is .toZ provide abreathingrm'a'sk assembly klian/ing 'a gas=sup`plying or purifyingA A`relatwly important premaman rmeoesignof` oxygen masks has fbeen ytoprovide' a 'satisfactory construction of the rebreathng "bag. Oneof thelsimple rubber'bladder suspended from the face'- piece in-'frontof thechest vof theusr, as-discl'osed in United States patent? .tovI-Ieidbrink2*,448;349.

Another method; disclosedfin United States patent torHeidbrink2",185';99?7,is" tcposition an' chamber 'carried on thehead of thewearer? in" such Ya In'arnn'erl as'y to be* comfortably supported andout of theway. I

' Another object fis'to provide breathing "mask equipmentadapted' to` beWornentirely on the ordinary rubber bladder y'oni `the topy oftheheardof the user, somewhat'ndthe*fashionofia plumeonthe-topo'fahelme't. l vSuch'constructionsgsatisfy :the gas-storingVireduirements, butV have disadvantages from a mechanical standpoint 'inthat the bladdersar'e un'- y protected and subject to dalmageiand maybecome head4 and' provide an unusual amount' of protec f Another object'is toj provide an aviatorsfoXy-- gen mask adapted to` be' supplied Awithoxygen through a connecting tube from astationary tank,.irr Whichtheaviators head cannot be' pulled or jerked by the connecting .tube should'the aviator have to leave thisiairpl'ane under emergencyconditions.

AAnother object is toprovidean oxygen mask 0r without goggle lenses` forthe eyes-0f the wearer. y A l- "Another Object S- tO- providerforheatingthe oxygenssupplied.toyanoxygen mask.` v It; .l l@ther`morespeciiieobjects and features ofthe invention Willv become apparent`frompthe de-` scription Ito follow ofa specic embodimentof .'xyg'enmasksfor aviators are not-broadly new. The e'ssential elements. of such amask include 'a facepiece" adapted vto l covery and seal "about, the

nose and mouth of the l wearer,l an A expansible'and contractible,rebre'athng bag', .connected ,to ,theL

facepiece, and a connection toa source of oxygen. The oxygen sourcesuppliesa relatively vs`low,rconi Vtinuous strearnuot oxygen sufficientj to` satisfy the users oxygen requirements .butv not equall` to therate ofjinhalation of' the' user. of fthe rebreathing bag is to rprovideav` reservoir in which a'jcertain amount of breathed `gas and oxygenfrom the Oxygen source isv stored during eiihalationfand then supplied'to the facepiece during inhalationwitnreiatively little yres.i. tamceS0- thalt th user 'ji's not ffcrceqr to'j exert abnormai rriuscularYeifort in order' to breathe;N 'l l t entangledwith other apparatus. r sf 'My maskfdiii'ers essentially from the'- prior vcon-- vstructions`nientioned thattherebreathing bag is enclosed and `soslfiaied that'it'forms a coinpact unit'moufrited Aonthe head of the user in such away-asn'ot to extend in any direction Where it wouldinterfere with thenormal' moveel'iminates the loose ccnglcrneraticn'of tribes and Wiresyleading tothe headgear`l of` airV aviator, which headgear must'include,in additiongtd the oxygen supplying equipment, the usual microsoconstructed as to adapt it for use' either with Si@ phone ainaarphoneSj-fbrflmdin communie-ation I .esferas man .the drawing;

Fig. 1 is aside View of an' oxygen, cordance with my invention, 'shownpositionon the head of auser; l 4 n.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section,taken through the rebreathing reservoirof the maskshOWIl in Fig. 1;

mask acjmounted in Fig. 3 is a detail', vertical section, takensubstantially inthe plane III-1110i? Fig." 2;

' Fig.v 4 is a detail View, partly ,in nsection, -of Ia portion .of thecord for makingagas `and electric connection tothemask; v v

Fig. 6 lis a detailtsectionftaken substantially in substantially inthep1ane `.VIV-*morrisrv r1; c c

Fig :7 vis atdetail section showing the shapeof kthe face-contactingedge of the mask; and -K Fig. ais al detail elevationzview showing anori.- ceinthe facepiece for-:insertion of `a .drinking tubeg-y'lReferring, first, 'to Fi`g. 1f;the apparatus there` in disclosedcomprises a IhelmetV I'I adaptedto t on the head of the user; and.facepiece' H adapted tto cover the nose andf vmouth and `'fctrn'r laig'as-ztight, fit fal'gainstr the face; The helm'et'- If mentcfthahead; Mydesfig'n "arse substamtiailyl place by an outer band orharness I1 which overlies the cup I6 and is secured by'straps I8 and",t

I9 to the side portions or flaps I3 of the helmet I0. The straps I8 andI9 may be providedwith H connecting buckles 'to permit adjustment.

I prefer to provide the face-cup I6 with a relatively wideface-contacting lip2l, as shown 20 Fig. '7, the face-contacting surfaceof lip 2l being preferably provided with alternate. furrows '22 andridges 23 to secure'afmore nearlygas-tight seal with theface.l

The'facepiece IIVmay beprovided with suit'- able means for supporting amicrophone 24 in front 'of the mouth of the user. The exact constructionof the microphone mounting does'not constitute a part of the present.invention and it'may'be constructed -as described in .my copendingapplication'Serial` No. 328,491, led April 8,1940, on anOxygen'mask.:

A breathing tube 25 extends `from the face'cup I6 'through an openingprovided therefor in the band I1 to a rebreathingreservoir on the helmetI0. This tube 25 may be of soft rubber, corrugated circumferentially,'so as to reinforce it against collapse in response to the' suction thatis produced when'theV user inhales; 'The tube 25 extends rearwardly andupwardly; well away from the nearest eye,`so that itY does not obstructthe vision of the wearer, and -lies close against'the cheek sothatit isnotlikely to become entangled withanythingp i v Referring now to Figs;y1, Zand 3, the helmet I0 has, formed on the side thereof a bulbous;rough--v ly annular extension extending all the way around the head;` YThe greater .portion ofy this extension is hollow'and forms a chamberfor a rebreathing bag' ort'bladder 28. The front portion of the bulbous.extension contains padding ,29, such as hair, to protect the head in theevent of crash, and to .also serve as' a visor-to shade the eyes of theuser. j

That portion of thebulbous extension containing the rebreathing bag.4281 is of substantially horseshoe shapeh in plan, and may be deiined byan outer wall of relatively stift' leather, orsimilar material, securedat its. edges to the skullcap portion I2 of the helmet, the portion `I2serving as the inner wall of the chamber containing the rebreathing bag28K. To facilitateinspection ,or repair'of the rebreathingbagJhe loweredge of the casing 30 may be secured; to the portion I2 of the helmet bya slide' fastener 3 I. The breathing tube 25 extends through an apertureprovided therefor in the casingv 30 and connects tothe rebreathingbag-'V28 adjacent-the forward end thereof. ,IAnloxygen'tube 32 extendsthrough an-aperture provided therefor in the casing 30 and connects tothe rebreathing bag 28 at a point displaced rearwardly from thebreathing tube 25. `The wall 30 may advantageously beforrned of leatherwith the fur left on, to provide thermal insulation and help keep theair in the rebreathing bag warm. This air is warmed toa certain extentby conduction from the head of the wearer through the wall I2.

Respiration of the user causes the rebreathing bag 28 to alternately lland collapse within the casing 30. To permit free contraction andexpansion of the rebreathing bag., a number of vent holes 33 may beprovided in the casing 30 adjacent the lower edge thereof.

It is also desirable to provide a permeable wall in therebreathing bagto permit auxiliary air to enter when the rebreathing, bag is empty, andsuch permeable wall may be formed by a patch 34 (Fig. 3) of poroussponge rubber secured to the rebreathing bag 28 overlying a hole 35therein'. A'number of small vent holes 3B may be provided in the casing30 overlying the permeable member 34.

` vIn operation, a continuous stream of oxygen is supplied through thetube 32 to the rebreathing bag 28, so that the latter becomes filledwith oxygen andexhaled gases before the end of each expiration. Afterthe bag 28 haslled, `a, portion ofthe last exhaled air escapes through aconventional exhaust valve 45 (Fig. 2) which is connected to and extendslaterally from the face cup I6. This valve 45 is of conventionalconstructionemployed in gas masks, andthe like, for years, and simplyfunctions as a check valve to permit escape of air in response to excesspressure within the cup while preventing the entry of air.

The front or visor portion 38 of the bulbous extension on the helmet maybe formed of soft leather, and stuifed with hair or 'other'suitablepadding material, as previously indicated. It is stuffed sufcientlytightly to retain its shape in ordinary use, but will yield and cushionthe head of'- the user against blows from the front, such as mightresult in an airplane crash. It preferably extends forwardly beyond themicrophone 24 so that if the users head is thrown forwardly against theinstrument board of an airplane, the stuffed visor lportion will stopmovement of the head toward the instrument board before the microphonecan contact the instrument yboard and be forced back into the usersface.

The visor portion 38 is flush with and joined to the rebreathing case 30at its rear'end and is secured at its upper and lower'edges to theskullcap portion I2 of the helmet.

The oxygen supply tube 32 extends away from the helmet to a suitableoxygen supply system. Likewise electrical connections extend from themicrophone 24 and the earphones I5. In accordance with the presentinvention, I combine the oxygen tube and the electrical wires intoasingle composite cord 40 which extends toan anchor clip 4I adapted tobe secured to one of the shoulder strapsl42 of a conventional parachuteharness. n The anchor member 4I makes releasable connection to a secondcord 50 which may be extended to any suitable distance to complete con,-nection to an oxygen supply system and to the radiosystem of which themicrophone 24 and the earphones I5 constitute parts.

The upper end of the composite cord 40 is secured, as by a strap 5l, tothe helmet I0 at the rear portion of the head of the wearer. Fromthis'point the oxygen tube 32 extends to the rebreathing bag, and thewires extend to the microphone and earphones. Thus the microphone wires52, which may consist of two insulated conductors formed into a singlecord, extendthrough a conduit 53 provided therefor in the band I'I ofthe facepiece vr'The cord 54, going-:to .therfleft earphone, 'is verys'hort 'and does motneed :to be, aanchor'ed fdo'wn. The cord5521,1g6ingtoitlfie rightl geaiphone, preferably 'extends'aroundtheY'back 'of the' fhea'd 'immediately belo'w the ease reo `and fis; i5

preerablyexten'ded through a tunnel or f'loops i55 fto ho1d itsnuglyagainstthehelmet.

The composite fcord 140 may be formed fby lay ing the various electricalconductingwiresf about the lower portion -of Fig. 4, the whole beingenclosed vin 'an `'outer :casing 56, A'which may be foi wovenr-sbfic forrubber.

"The 'lanchor Aclip Wl' #may be4 constructed as y"til/'ely rigid (i1-ip5" :infilor Whh 'the `p`al`aJChl1t 'shouldcr'str'ap l2 cfan be y"forcedthrough an? opening 58 at one side of the clip. Thefout'er wa/1159 ofthe lclip has secured thereto a casing memberI`lllcontaining-'aprojecting'tube'lil over the Vupper 20 end -of which'the 4`oxygen 'tube -`40 'is slipped, and ya plurality ofAelectr-icalconducting elements 62` to the 'upper v-en'dsof whichthe"various.electricalv wires 63 are individually connected as by pins.

`64 on `the ends of the wires and pin jacks `6`4a 25 forme'd in theupper ilends of the connectors k"62. The case 60 is, o'f course,constructed of -electrica'l insulating material so as not vtoshortcircuit the electrical conductors 62.V `At thellower end" f thecase :60 "the conductors622may1termi- `2'3"() "nate in pin jacks 365Whih Areceive Ac'OnIieCiZ-'i'ng p'ins lil'on theiends of-wires'lformin'g a part of "the cable orA cord 5'0 qwhich extends away --from'the'body of :thepe'rsonus'ing the mask'. The oxy- `li'l in'the'anchormember"4l. lAsa resultfhoi the construction described, 4 .the-"cord f5 0can 'be -`vj erked away from "the anchor member -"4`I {in jan A'meruser.l

I nd'th'at it is 'sometimes desirable when flying vat extremealtitudesin 'an airplane without adequate heating facilities, yto supply-someheat tothe .oxygen because of the fact that theoky'gen "45 is 'cooled-even 'below 'the `low temperature eX- istent at high altitude, byexpansion as it leaves the pressure tank in which it is stgred Itherefore provide in the cord an electrical heating l device for warmingthe oxygen as it flows to the mask. The construction ofthe heatingdevice is disclosed in Fig. 4. It comprises afmetalnipple 10 inserted inthe oxygen tube 32 and surrounded by an electrical heating co-il 7|. The

coil 1I may beseparated from the metal nipple 55 10 by a thin layer ofelectrical insulating material 12, such as mica, and is itself formedofl wire insulated withheat-resistant electrical insulation of any knowntype. The coil is `surrounded -by a thin layer 13 of thermal insulationto re- 60 duce Wastage of heat by radiation. The coil 1I is connected atopposite ends to a pair of wires from the plurality of wires 63 in thecord, whichwires may be connected at their remote ends (by a pair ofconductors in the cord 50) to any suit- 65 able source of current, suchas the usual electric battery of an airplane. Of course a switch may beinserted in the heating circuit at any convenient point, but since it isnot essential, and would be of conventional construction, it is notdisclosed in the drawing.l e v Electrical connections to the microphone24 and the earphones l5 are preferably made by means of screwconnections, so that 'the microphone and earphones can be removed fromthe 40 extending tothe apparatus onthelhead of v'the figo -lielmet'assembly for 'testing 4:or serlvicing without removingtheonnectingfwires from the helmet.

. 'f-fi/ifIihe-lband `lSVI' is provided Vwith :detachable fasteners on.thefright side. (noi-,visible vin the draw- '.in positlon'ed similarlyrto 'thebuckles'fZU on ithe'fleftfsside, --so 'that `,the 4facepiece vill can y'be f loosened and r`swung awayirom the' face Awithoutinterference? by` `the "breathing ltube 25 and the felectricalleads52extending to ythe microphone. Af-ter the .facepiecehas been `released:asy de- Yscribed,:the chin .strap i4 on the helmet can be'releasedfand:the .helmet 'removed from the headJf-Thehelmet is put :on .by reversingthe procedure; flnazmely, rst .applying the vhelmet porition lillftofthe :head and securing .the chin :strap '124,1 andwthen locating.the :facepiece in proper lpositionfin `iront of fthe face and-securing'the "fastenerslo'nfthe right :side thereof, vwhich-.Ias-

v"tenerscorrespond to the buckles 20 @shown in Fig. 1. i

It is sometimes desirable, particularly when flying at great altitudesduring fthe daytime, to 'have dark goggles toshieldf'the eyes from the-intense light. "It is awkward to-Wear conventionalv goggles with oxygenmask equipment, :and in accordance with the present invention, I provideclipsl v8l) on the "face cup i6, adapted vto Vreceive `thelower edgesofavpair of gogglelenses Y 'fing'the oxygen mask. However; in accordanceA'with the"present invention, I make it 'possible l'for"the*aviator toimbibe liquid through a drinkf I ing tubeA without removing `this',oxygen ,'mask.

Thus, as yshown in Figs. Zand 8, 'the rubber 'face e cup I`6l hasv aninvva'ijfdly extending 'nipplef'illly formed l.therein immediately 'to lone side of lthe lmicrophone '24, .this nipple having a pairA ofcrossjslits 9| and V9.2- therein, `through .which y a drinking tube canbe passed -to the mouth of the aviator. The rubberwalls of the nipplewill return to normal, closed lposition when the drinkingtube iswithdrawn.

Various changes from the exact construction disclosed Vmay be madewithout departing from y the invention, and Ithe latter is to be limitedonly as set forth in the appended claims. For instance, the. generalconstruction disclosed wouldv be useful in a gas mask, the air-purifyingchemicals being contained in the rebreathing cham'- ber, which might, toadvantage, then be extended all the way around the head, the stuffedvisor being eliminated.

l. A breathing apparatusadapted to besupf ported on and movable with theheadk ofA a person, and comprising: a rst means for effecting vabreathing connection with a breathing orifice of said person, and asecond means deninga chamber `of substantial cu ic content, cooperatingwithsaid'rst means to supply breathing gas thereto, said second meansincluding skullcap member vadapted to restsnugly on the top andL slopingside and rear portions ofthe head, and a bulbous wall joined at itsedges to said'skullcap member and deiiningftherewithl a chamber curvedlongitudinally about the head in substancomprising: first ,connectionwith a 4 tially"horizontal position with its top approximately' levelwith the top ofthe head.

2. A breathing apparatus adapted to be supported on and movablek withthe head of a person, andcomprising: a rst means for effectinga'breathing connection with `a breathing orifice of said person, asecond means defining a chainber of substantial cubic content, a conduitconnecting said second means with said first means to| supply breathinggas thereto, said second means including a skullcap member adapted torest snugly on the ztop and sloping side and rear portions of the head,and a bulbous wall joined at its upper and lower edges to saidskullcapmember and extending across the back and forwardly along the sides ofsaid skullcap and defining therewith a chamber curved longitudi- -nallyabout the head, the top of said bulbous Wall lying approximately in ahorizontal plane level with the top of the head of said person.

3. Aibreathing apparatus adapted to be supported on and movable with thehead of a person, and comprising: a-first means for electing a breathingconnection with a breathing orifice of said person, and a second meansdefining a chamber of substantial cubic content cooperating with saidfirst means to supply breathing gas thereto, said apparatus includingcasing means of general 4toroidal shape, dimensioned to rest upon theupper sloping rear and side portions of the head, andl against theforehead with the top of said casing approximately level with the top ofthe head, thegrear portion of said toroidal casing being vhollow andconstituting said chamber, and the front portion of said toroidal casingmerging smoothly into said rear portion and containing shock-absorbingmaterial.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 in which the -frontalshock-absorbing portion of said toroidal casing extends forwardly andlaterally above the eyes of said person to constitute 'a visor.

5. A breathing apparatus adapted to be sup- .iported on and movable withthe head of a person, means for eiecting a breathing breathing orificeof said perdening an expansible reservoir connected son, and a secondmeans and retractible rebreathing to fit over and seal around thereto,and means'for supplying a breathing gas to said reservoir, saidrebreathing reservoir comprising an outer rigid casing .oflongitudinally curved, tubular form adapted to lie against and besupported on the upper, slopingportions of the head, and a flexible bagpositioned -within said outer casing and shaped to conform thereto whenfully inflated, said outer casing having vent apertures therein.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 5, in which said first meanscomprises a facial cup adapted the nose and mouth of a person, with abreathing tube extending from one side of said facial cup closely alongthe side of the head of the person to the adjacent side of saidrebreathing reservoir, and check valve means extending laterally fromthe opposite side of said face cup.

'7. An aviators oxygen helmet comprising: a facepiece adapted to fitover and seal around the mouth and nose of the aviator, means forsecuring said facepiece against the aviator7s face, and goggle lenses,said facepiece being provided on opposite sides ,of the nose withdownwardly extending pockets for receiving and -frictionally grippingthe lower marginal portions of said lenses for detachably supportingsaid goggle lenses in position Ain front of the eyes of the aviator.

8. A breathing apparatus adapted to be suprported on and movable withthe head of a person comprising: first means for effecting a breathingconnection with a breathing orince of said person, and a second meansdefining an expansible and retractible breathing reservoir connectedthereto, and means for supplying a breathing gas to said reservoir, saidrebreathing reservoir comprising a scullcap adapted to fit on the head,an outwardly bowed strip of relatively stiff material extending acrossthe back and forwardly along the sides of the scullcap with the upperand lower edges of said strip fastened to the scullcap to form therewitha chamber, and an elongated iiexible breathing bag disposed in saidchamber.

' SILAS- A. MOREHOUSE.

